altimit | [Closed] misteaks' mistakes (catchall)

Mmhmm. Breathing is kind of important.

[Obvious statement is obvious, but he's not mocking here.]

So you went into the water. You felt a lot of things, in your chest and in your head. You realized you couldn't breathe. And you stayed still.

What do you think would feel like a good result for you, if that happened again? If you felt those kind of feelings again.

Edited (Wording ) 2023-08-22 18:52 (UTC)

( 🤔 )

... Probably... coming up for air.

( Right? )

[Heh. The pouty face is kind of cute.]

Yeah. But think more specifically.

What could you physically do?

( There's more ??? )

... Swim out of the tank?

Mhmm. Maybe even just "swimming to the surface." You don't need to be out of the tank to be able to breathe. And if your mouth isn't in the water anymore, you could even ask someone for help.

[Options!]

If you felt the floor under your feet, do you think you could you stand up?

( yay!! )

... I could.

( Thinks... )

I think my brain just goes, "I don't want to." But maybe I can train it.

Maybe. Motivation is hard even with a healthy brain. [He knows it's not always that easy. He couldn't expect Booker to just be able to get out of bed if he was tired. Some days it was good to push it. Others, not so much.]

So you've got all your tools. You know it feels bad, you know things you could do that are different, and you know you could do it.

Training underwater is kind of dangerous. But... maybe you could try it somewhere else? Even if it's just... training to stand up when your body doesn't want to.

Anything come to mind?

( if mithrun were a cat his tail might just be up with a little curl at the tip. it's his vibe right now, even if his face doesn't change much. he's been pursuing a big abstract goal and his brain hasn't been agreeing with it, but this is concrete and mechanical. he can train himself to respond, even if he doesn't want to live, even if he doesn't want to stop drowning.

he can't kill that man if a bit of water is enough to kill him down, after all. )

It might not be that dangerous. For example, I ask someone to drown or submerge me, and bring me back up if I don't attempt to get up within a few moments... And then I can try again. The consequences are only temporary here.

( Mithrun had inadvertently described waterboarding. He unfortunately seems very genuine. )

I guess standing up works. If I don't have anything to do next I just stay lying down.

( ragdolling )

Edited 2023-08-22 21:21 (UTC)

[Well! He was on-board until the waterboarding!]

That's gonna put a lot of stress on your heart and brain, though. Even if it doesn't last that long.

[Who would want to drown themselves 500 times in a row with how realistic this game felt?? (Mithrun, apparently)

He sighs, running his free hand against his neck as he thinks over the rest.]

Having someone with you is smart. Maybe starting somewhere where your head is... above the water, first.

Maybe we'll get a pool at one of the guilds. We could ask.

Edited 2023-08-22 21:36 (UTC)

( Hmmm... Strain on the heart and brain is something he hadn't considered. Barrett stays Mithrun's waterboarding hand, for now. )

... A pool might work. I haven't been in one for a long time.

( Due to lack of opportunity or due to likelihood of drowning? You decide.

A beat, where he seems to not be sure how to phrase what he intends to say, but eventually he manages: )

... Thanks. For all this.

Mn? [It's an absent hum with his straw still in his mouth, reverberating down the plastic.]

Ah. No problem.

You can let me know if you come up with anything else. I always like to have someone cheer me on for my goals.

Maybe you'll like it, too.

[Nothing got the blood pumping more than several football players cheering when you benchpress a new goal mark.]

Edited 2023-08-22 23:53 (UTC)

( Oh... )

... I'm only in Fragment. ( So he can't do anything for him irl. ) But maybe I'll cheer you on next time, too.

( Barrett probably doesn't have any goals to accomplish in here. And imagining Mithrun cheering is probably hard, even for Mithrun himself. But hey. Never say never. )

[He goes quiet for a second, nodding silently and gently chewing on the straw in his mouth. Mmn. He can't go giving this sort of stuff out to anyone. But...]

...Hey.

Do you watch football at all? On TV?

( He shakes his head. )

Not recently... Are your games on TV?

( :O! )

Yeah.

[It's weird to say out loud, and the nerves hit him a little more than he expects. But he's proud to be at this school, on this team, doing this sport. It's what he's good at

It's all he's good at.]

I play for Cal, with the Bears. Second string, so you probably won't see me anyway unless something goes wrong. But we still have our first division game coming up in about a week.

Even if you can't watch... it would feel nice knowing a friend is wanting my team to do well.

( There's a few moments while Mithrun digs through his mental repository of real world knowledge that he has in his head but is kind of dusty because he hasn't accessed it much in the past two years.

Ah.

Mithrun nods. He recognizes that Barrett probably doesn't want to be very forthcoming about details of his real life, like most players here, and that Barrett shared that with him anyway. )

... Okay. I'll watch. How often do they play?

( He knows of football and California's teams, as well as the general big teams and such (sports is way too common a topic irl for him not to know them during his socialite days), but he's never actually like, paid much attention. How does it work? He doesn't do much else, anyway. Literally just sits around all day or plays Fragment. )

Edited (grammar) 2023-08-23 00:41 (UTC)

[Ah. It's a simple answer, but he still grins. It's been so busy, he can't recall even inviting anyone from his classes...]

Once a week. Every Saturday until the end of November.

A lot of the younger guys are nervous. But it makes us feel better and helps us try our hardest, when we know someone is out there for us.

So... I'll think of you, if I get my chance on the field.

Edited 2023-08-23 01:01 (UTC)

( Every Saturday... logged.

But wtf that's sweet... Especially with that smile. Even Mithrun picks up on that. The saccharine flavor's strong enough to get through his senses. )

... Okay.

( Considers... )

... If you do get to play, I could probably come see, if you tell me. It wouldn't be hard for me.

( His words carry a suggestion of if you want. He isn't being conscientious so much as he understands there might be a boundary of physicality Barrett might not like crossed, even if Mithrun doesn't say this with a specific intent to meet him, just watch with everyone else in the stands. It wouldn't offend him if Barrett redirected him back to watching from behind a screen. )

Edited 2023-08-23 02:07 (UTC)

...

You would?

[He has no idea where Morgan even lives to bother offering this... wouldn't TV be easier?

The light from the other end of the tunnel catches the end of the boat, catches the open surprise on his face of a request he very clearly wasn't expecting, how he weighs it.]

...Yeah. You could come watch in person, if you wanted. I wouldn't mind. We're playing in Berkeley this week.

I can't promise I'll be out a lot. Second string means I'm just the backup. You know, if someone gets hurt or if our main players need to rest. But...

It would be cool to think you're out in the stands.

Edited 2023-08-23 02:22 (UTC)

Okay. I'll be there.

( He's about to give his carer a heart attack by saying he's going to Berkley this weekend with absolutely no context. Rip to that guy.

The light slides across his face gradually, his gaze expectant, his lips all blue. He hasn't been on a trip in a long time. )

You'll still be at the stadium, right? I won't be very loud, but I'll cheer.

( Mithrun 🧍ing in the stands with a giant CalBear foam finger and a CalBear soda hat. It's definitely the thought that counts. )

Edited 2023-08-23 02:33 (UTC)

[There's a breathy halt of a laugh that sneaks out, half between the sight of his lips and half the idea of Morgan cheering for anything with any kind of energy. Maybe he and Booker really would get along.]

Yeah. I'll be on the bench.

I'll listen for you. You, and my brothers, and Fai... I'll listen as much as I can.

[A beat, and he carefully taps his index finger to his own lips.]

Your mouth turned all blue while we were in there. Heh.

( His gaze lingers on Barrett, his expression, and that soft sort of laugh. It makes him feel something he isn't sure he has a word for. Positive regard, maybe.

(Fai... that sounds familiar... he feels like he's seen a Fai around...)

But, !, at the mention of the blue. He sticks out his tongue like he's trying to see it but, well, that sure doesn't work. They should probably be getting out of the boat or telling the NPC if they want to go again, but Mithrun isn't focused on that. )

... Show me your mouth.

( are you blue ba da bee... )

Edited 2023-08-23 03:22 (UTC)

[He nods and sticks his tongue out obediently for a moment.

It's a bright, unnatural cherry red.]

Is it on my teeth? I wonder if I look like a dinosaur.

( !!!!! )

... It's red.

( He seems thoroughly impressed. )

Do dinosaurs have colored teeth? ... Your teeth are red, too.

They had to, right? Like...

[He takes his own hand into his teeth for a moment, growling and shaking it around like a dog with a chew toy.]

Like that. They'd be messy.

[Closed] misteaks' mistakes (catchall)

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